On high tech's cutting edge
Meet Deon Nelson, a self-admitted computer nut. His home is completely wired to his computer -- which was more expensive than his car.

On the move
Thomas ``Branan'' Ruffin has joined the staff of R.W. Allen & Associates as project examiner.

Pocket change
Consumer Reports magazine compared the prices of commonly-prescribed drugs and found a big disparity among the amounts charged by drugstore chains, independent pharmacists, supermarkets, mass retailers such as Wal-Mart and online or mail-order pharmacies.

Shop early say financial experts
NEW YORK -- Get your shopping done early -- and avoid the lack of crowds. That's the advise some financial consultants are giving investors who may have some last-minute business to wrap up before year's end, whether buying or selling stocks, bonds and other securities.

Athletes made history
No story of the 20th century would be complete without mention of its great sports stars. What would this century have been without Babe Ruth, Roger Staubach, Jack Nicklaus, Michael Jordan, Roger Bannister, Martina Navratilova, Jack Dempsey or Richard Petty?

Creating fantasies for their children
As 9-week-old Zachary Russ grows, he will see visions of a storybook hollow. The newest addition to the Russ family has his parents' imagination and neighbor Heather Hilton's artistic talent to thank for the panoramic scene painted in his bedroom.

Washington house was full of angry spirits
For months, people had complained of foul smells and strange sounds emanating from the deserted house at 11th and D streets in Washington, D.C. Each time police went to investigate they found nothing out of the ordinary, just bones of rats and cats.

Clearing up clergy confusion
Dear Carson: There is confusion in our office about the proper way to address letters to Protestant pastors, Roman Catholic priests, bishops and nuns.

They add up
Kathy Hamrick confesses an obsession for a device most people take for granted -- and only a math professor could love. ``They're modest little things,'' she said, gesturing toward her collection of hand-held, electronic calculators. ``But they really changed our world.''

In the know
On Tuesday, Hasbro introduced I Choose You, an electronic plush version of the best known Pokemon character, No. 25, Pikachu, although it isn't to be available nationwide until November. It's the first in a series of electronic plush toys to be released by Hasbro, Nintendo's toy and board game licensee for Pokemon.

Shirts were lucky for victories
The kicker is, the Atlanta Braves won't know it.
Within a few days, they will either be the celebrated victors of the last World Series of the 1900s, or just another disappointment in a decade of lost opportunities.

Holt probe mirrors JonBenet investigation
As Wayne Bunton works to arrest those responsible for killing Sam's Club manager David Holt, the Richmond County sheriff's homicide investigator can empathize with his Boulder, Colo., counterparts' attempts to solve the slaying of JonBenet Ramsey.

Temperatures today might to be in 30s
Chilly weather is on its way to Augusta. Temperatures today are expected to be the lowest so far this year, reaching 64 degrees during the day and dropping into the mid-30s by nightfall, with light winds and clear skies.

Schools resume schedule talks
Still licking their wounds from last year, Columbia County school officials hope they will have more success with their latest attempt to gain support for an alternative schedule.

Debate still rages over video poker
AIKEN -- Just two weeks ago in Aiken County, poker foes made 3,500 telephone calls in one night urging people to vote against keeping the video gambling industry legal.

Doctor gets national notice
The Center for Primary Care in Evans doesn't look like a research laboratory with its waiting room full of children and parents. But through its director, family practice physician Paul Fischer, it is now linked to a network of prestigious researchers whose expertise the government often seeks on controversial issues.

Fans find friends at classic
The rivalrous rants of the Morris Brown College and Morehouse College fans never rose from the tailgate camp Saturday morning. Amid the smoking grills and pounds of marinated meats, there were no team supporters flailing pompons or waving school banners when the party began in the parking lot behind the Lumpkin Road stadium.

Across the area
AIKEN -- Aiken police on Sunday continued to investigate a weekend armed robbery of Eubanks Country Store, in which two men took $1,732 while customers were inside.

Norwood asserts conservative philosophy
WASHINGTON -- When Charlie Norwood took his place at the Republican revolution in 1994, he stood on the principles of his party: smaller government, more individual freedom and fewer taxes.

Candidates explain circumstances of incidents
Running afoul of the law does not necessarily keep people from running for office in Augusta.
In a check of Richmond County State Court and Superior Court records, The Augusta Chronicle found misdemeanor criminal offenses for five of the 10 candidates in contested races for Augusta Commission.

Candidates want to fix water crisis
Two candidates in Augusta Commission District 6 are running for the seat that will be vacated at year's end by J.B. Powell. Former Richmond County Commission Chairman and real-estate broker Hobson Chavous and Savannah River Site research supervisor Andy Cheek want the seat Mr. Powell chose not to seek again.

Olde Town will get training center
A new training center expected to open next month will nudge Olde Town residents closer to the cutting edge. In celebration of national Make a Difference Day, the Augusta staff of Communities in Schools held a luncheon Saturday to thank E-Z-GO Textron, the primary renovator of the organization's new training facility and computer lab.

Center draws zoning dispute
With a planning book in hand, Miranda Jackson counted the cloth-covered tables: ``Twenty-three, 24, 25, 26.'' She looked around Peter S. Knox Service Center, imagining what it would look like in a little more than 24 hours.

Volunteer teacher earns award
AIKEN -- She was born in the Roaring '20s, when hemlines raced upward from ankles to knees. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig were regarded as gods on the diamond. Breaking the law was expected, and speakeasies padlocked were not speakeasies closed.

Argument leads to stabbing
SALLEY -- A Salley man wanted in the stabbing of two men during the weekend was arrested Sunday morning after a brief standoff with Aiken County sheriff's deputies, authorities said.

Says decision no victory for poker foes
To say that the court's latest decision on video poker is a surprise to me would be an understatement. I just want all the poker operators out there to know that I don't see this as a victory. In other words, I'll save my celebration until July, 2000. I see it as just another move to save the industry.
Brenda Bancroft, North Augusta

Blasts sentence in Williams case
You can tell you are living in perilous days when a criminal can murder and steal and still live off taxpayers' support for the rest of his life. And people wonder why their taxes continue to rise? The blame is not solely upon the government.
Timothy Fellows, Jr., Augusta

Contradicts book on 'Hitler's Pope'
Recently, The Chronicle published a Washington Times book review of John Cornwell's, Hitler's Pope, in which the newspaper seemed to agree with Mr.Cornwell's conclusion that Pope Pius XII was ``silent'' on the Holocaust. You would think that they would have done a little research on their own before printing that review. To prove Mr. Cornwell wrong, all they had to do was reach into the files of The New York Times which printed many stories concerning the pope's condemnation of the Nazis.
William J. Kemple, Augusta

Support N-waste solution
The public hearings being held by the Department of Energy to move spent nuclear fuel out of 72 commercial nuclear plants and five DOE nuclear weapons complexes, such as Savannah River Site, should have been held years ago. The decades-old plan calls for shipping the nuclear waste to a deep burial facility in Yucca Mountain, Nev.

DOE lawbreaker
If Republican George W. Bush is elected president next year and one of his Cabinet secretaries were to brazenly testify on the Hill that the administration won't obey a law it doesn't like until Congress changes it, imagine the outcry you'd hear from liberal and cultural elites in the major media.

Opportunity blown
The reason Elizabeth Dole gave for dropping out of the GOP primary presidential sweepstakes is that she couldn't raise enough money to compete with Texas Gov. George W. Bush's war chest.

Ga. Dems ignore ethics
While an Augusta Commission subcommittee continues to wrestle with forging an ethics ordinance, an even worse scenario is unfolding in Atlanta.

China v. China
An old American ally has been slapped in the face by none other than the head of the American Red Cross, Dr. Bernadine Healy.

Assails candidate's 'shortsighted' leadership skills
Do you want another tax increase on your Augusta-Richmond County millage rate? On Oct. 9, while attending a political rally-breakfast at Gracewood Community Center, District 4 candidate Hobson Chavous was expounding on the present financial situation and the status of county funds when he was a commissioner.
Paschal I. Owen, Hephzibah

Endorses Dist. 4 incumbent
The residents of Augusta Commission District 4 should know the difference between snake oil and real problem solving. The three opposing candidates are opportunists.
Nathaniel Charles, Hephzibah

Claims bill confuses abortion issue
The bill crafted by U.S. Rep. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and passed overwhelmingly by the House of Representatives on Sept. 30, that would make it a federalcrime to injure or kill an unborn child in the act of another federal crime, only adds confusion to an already strange dichotomy and raises the question of how do we determine when it is legal or illegal to commit the same crime?
A. G. Blackmon, Warrenville

Praises Dist. 4 incumbent's hard work
As friends and neighbors of Commissioner Richard Colclough, we feel we must respond to Phil Kent's unfair comments made in his Oct. 7 column regarding Mr.Colclough's health.
Ruby and Clyde Durden, Augusta

Slams adoption process as Orwellian
In order to raise a generation of sane children, the following law must be enacted for married couples expecting children by birth or adoption:
Kevin A. Palmer, Augusta

Lauds support for new library in Columbia Co.
Hooray for the editorial on Oct. 9 in favor of the new library for Columbia County! A new facility will benefit all citizens with Internet access and new resources.
R. Janine Bangs, Martinez

Argues Reagan not to blame for deficit
It has been some time since we have seen the tactic of blaming the administration of Ronald Reagan for the federal deficit; however, Norma Groom (Oct. 16 letter) employs it!
L. Russ Dorn, Jr., Augusta

Fears total water ban in Columbia Co.
We have had outdoor water restrictions in Columbia County for two summers. During the summer of 1998 we had odd-even days for watering. This past summer we had odd-even restrictions and also time limits of 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. This meant that working people could only water two or three hours every other day unless they had an automatic watering system.
Paul L. Sims, Grovetown

Blasts editorial backing earring ban
Editorial editor Phil Kent is a prime example of what is wrong with our society and schools. Most kids who wear earrings are not gay, drug dealers, or gang bangers like he suggested (editorial, Oct. 15).
Holly Goodson, Augusta

Supports youth mentor in Dist. 4
I've known Augusta Commission District 4 candidate BrianGreen through my associations with him as a volunteer mentor to our troubled youths at Augusta Youth Development Center.
James Price, Augusta

Hits lawmakers 'ignoring their duty'
Since the court system is being used to do what legislators will or cannot do, I would like to see printed a list of the petitioners who filed frivolous lawsuits against the gunmakers. They should pay dearly.
Bill Paschal, Appling

Pixels replace stunt performers
LOS ANGELES -- Phil Culotta misses getting beaten up.
The veteran stuntman was hired to double for Kevin Bacon in an upcoming sci-fi movie, but like a growing number of America's stunt performers, Culotta said he lost most of the daring-do to a computer-generated replacement.

AltaVista search engine re-designed
AltaVista Co., a no-frills Internet search engine, will undergo radical surgery Monday in its bid to become a full-fledged consumer media company offering live news updates and comparison-shopping tools.

Scientists to analyze dead whale
BOSTON -- The slow, agonizing death of a female right whale entangled in fishing nets in the Atlantic Ocean was a severe setback for a species already hovering near extinction.